Looking for the perfect Passover gift for your Seder host or hostess? Whether this is a yearly occasion or your first time observing, these Passover hostess gift tips and ideas are sure to take the stress out of gifting.

Gifting Food? Make Sure It’s Kosher for Passover

If you want to show up with a festive assortment of delicious treats for everyone to enjoy, make sure they are not just kosher, but specifically kosher for Passover. Look for the “OKP” symbol when shopping for Passover gifts and treats. If you’re not completely sure, you may want to avoid gifting food altogether to avoid offending.

Give Reusable Gifts

If your recipient plays hosts or hostess often, consider giving them a gift they can reuse for their entertaining in the future, such as personalized barware. The customized touch is extra thoughtful, and the host will think of you every time they entertain!

While the Kids are at Bay, the Adults will Play

In between serving and caring for the younger guests, hostess duties can be tiring. Take some of the stresses off of them by bringing something to keep the kids busy so the host can tend to the other guests such as board games or playing cards.

Help Melt Those Party Planning Stresses

Planning and hosting an event at home can be stressful, and a Passover seder is no exception. Give your special host or hostess a gift to help him or her melt the stresses away such as a spa basket or gift certificate to their local day spa.Continue Reading…

National Puppy Day is March 23rd! Celebrate your favorite furry friend by inviting the (friendly) local canines over for a puppy party filled with woof-worthy treats and pooch-approved activities.

Be sure you dog-proof your home before the big day – this may include putting away valuables as well as placing gates in areas you prefer to stay closed off.

Puppy Party Invitations

Since our furry friends are not able to RSVP themselves, you’ll have to send it to their loyal owners! Sending e-card invitations is a great way to invite your fellow dog lovers. There are many e-card sites that carry a wide selection of dog themed e-invitations like celebrations.com. Here are a couple that we thought were “a-dog-able”:

One of my favorite parts of hosting a holiday gathering is the opportunity to get the creative juices flowing and putting the hours clicking through Pinterest to good use! If a sit down meal is involved then think of the tabletop surface as your palette. A good place to start in creating the theme that you will be building upon would be the invitation. Fine Stationery has so many fabulous options to choose from including the Easter Egg Topiary version that I went with.

Burlap continues to be a very popular material for home décor and crafting. It’s inexpensive, easy to find, and there seems to be an endless number of ways to use it. Case in point – this Easter themed wreath was inexpensive and easy to make. And with a few simple changes this one wreath base can be updated throughout the year to celebrate the season, a holiday, or any special occasion.

Set the scene for your Passover Seder and celebrations with a creative twist on your décor! Taking inspiration from Passover’s most popular wine – Manischewitz – we came up with this creative Passover centerpiece that will add a fun and festive touch to your spread.

To celebrate vino’s robust purple color, we paired a stunning bouquet of purple flowers with an empty bottle of the wine and some juicy dark purple grapes. This centerpiece is simple to make and takes little to no time at all. Whip these up about an hour or two before guests arrive – that way, you can empty the bottles by filling their wine glasses. Or, pour the wine into mason jars and place in the fridge to chill.

Tip: one bouquet can go a long way so you can certainly make several of these creative arrangements and spread them throughout the table for a “pop” of fun!Continue Reading…

With their unparalleled beauty and versatility, it’s clear why roses are amongst the most popular flower around the world. From being showcased around homes to being a key ingredient in perfumes to being the subject of works of art throughout history, the rose has been immortalized from a flower to an iconic part of human culture.

History of Roses

There are few flowers quite as sought after and elegant as that of the orchid. Even those who claim they do not love flowers will stop in their tracks when they spot a stunning orchid in their line of vision. While orchids are one of the less common plants gifted on special occasions, they are one of the most common plant groups found in the world. Read on and learn more about this stunning bloom!

History of Orchids

Top O’ The Mornin’ To Ya!

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and what better way to start the day than with a plate of hot homemade Irish soda bread scones, a cup of Irish tea, and an Irish Eyes cocktail? Add some unique Irish inspired floral decor and you’re ready for the perfect Irish breakfast!

“Green Tea” Roses & Irish Soda Bread Scones

In this case, the tea is a bouquet of fresh “green tea” roses, to go along perfectly with the Irish breakfast tea of your choice! Match your tea and the tea cup of green roses, with Irish Soda Bread scones (recipe below), and you have the perfect start for your Irish breakfast!

Directions:
Sift the flour, baking soda and powder into a bowl. Rub in butter. Add in the sugar and raisins. Stir with a wooden spoon. Make a well in the mix and work in the buttermilk. Turn on to a floured board and knead briefly. With a wooden rolling pin, roll out the mixture till it is one inch thick. Use a cookie cutter, or an upside-down plastic tumbler, to cut out the scones from the dough. Glaze with a beaten egg. Bake in a hot oven (425°F) for 15 minutes.

Tricolo(u)r – The National Flag of Ireland

I’m embarrassed to admit that I never knew the meaning and lasting relevance of the Irish flag. I’ve held it high on many occasions without even knowing what the three colors represented. In case there are any others of you like me, let me take this opportunity to share my newfound knowledge, as well as my floral tribute to this piece of Irish hope and pride.

The three equal stripes illustrate the Irish political landscape, as accurately today as in 1848, the year the Irish flag was first unfurled.

Orange — Standing for Irish Protestants

Green — Signifying Irish Catholics and the Republican Cause

White — Representing the Hope for Peace Between Them

The Wearing of Green!

Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day as early as the 17th century. Keep the tradition alive by having green carnations available for your guests to pin on when they arrive at your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Fill an interesting and appropriately themed container, such as the old Bailey’s tin that I used here, with green carnations that are cut short and ready to be adorned with a ribbon or pinned on a lapel. The carnations I’ve used are a natural green variety called Prado. It is one of my favorite flowers, because of its beautiful pale green color and its availability year round.

If you really want to impress your special Irish lad or lass, look into their eyes as you pin on their carnation and say the Gaelic phrase, “Tá tú go h-álainn” (you’re beautiful).

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling!

This cocktail is called Irish Eyes and is similar to the vodka based White Russian. Crème de menthe adds just a hint of mint and gives the finished drink its light green color. A few of these and you’ll be singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and no one will care what key it is in!

Once April 1st comes around, it’s time to take out of storage those rainboots, umbrellas, ponchos and of course – vases for your spring flowers. The age-old saying “April Showers Bring May Flowers” still holds true today. But just how did this fun saying originate? Today we’re diving into the history of this poem and prepping for the rainy months ahead of us!

April Showers Bring May Flowers: A History

The poem as we know it today originated all the way in 1157, in the form of a short poem written by Thomas Tusser. The poem can be found in the April section of a collection of his writings titled, “A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry.” The poem goes as follows:Continue Reading…